Mission

Participating in God's ongoing mission in the world, Pittsburgh Theological Seminary is a community of Christ joining in the Spirit's work of forming and equipping people for ministries familiar and yet to unfold and communities present and yet to be gathered.

In the Way of Jesus

Since 1794 Pittsburgh Theological Seminary has been preparing students in the way of Jesus. We welcome neighbors; share meals, differences, and experiences; expand our minds; and expect to be challenged by the broad range of beliefs we bring to the table.

Academic Rigor

The established academic rigor of more than 200 years of theological education, and the depth and diversity of our faculty, ensure our student community learns, grows, and flourishes on a path to practical ministry. Our students prepare to engage in God's work with parishes, nonprofits, and institutions specific to their call.

Service to the Church and Community

From our extensive theological library, archaeological museum, and printed and digital publications, to welcoming participation in our robust continuing education program, mission-related opportunities, and youth ministry institute, the Seminary models what it means to be a valuable resource for the church and the world.

Support Theological Education

When you give to Pittsburgh Seminary, you invest in men and women who, in and out of the classroom, are preparing to participate with Christ in the transformative work of gospel ministry around the globe—whether in traditional church settings, entrepreneurial church plants, or missional initiatives. Your giving supports student scholarships, faculty development, educational programs such as the World Mission Initiative, Church Planting Initiative, and Metro-Urban Institute, and much more.

Say Hello

Meet PTS

The Rev. Sean Brubaker ’14 engaged the usual crew of neighborhood boys one summer Saturday afternoon. The boys knew that when the parking lot of Calvin Presbyterian Church (Elwood City, Pa.) was full of cars, food was usually involved—always a good motivator for hanging around.

The church was hosting retired mission co-worker Nancy McGaughey and guests from the South Sudan Presbyterian Evangelical Church: Elder Daniel Kech Puoc, financial secretary, and his wife, Madam Achol Majok Kur, chairperson of the women’s desk for SSPEC’s executive committee. The boys inquired about the food and the possibility of being invited to stay. So pastor Sean struck a deal—they could stay and eat as long as they stayed to hear the guests speak. The boys agreed but noted they had to leave at 5:00 p.m. because they “had to be somewhere.”

Daniel and Achol didn’t began sharing till about 4:45 p.m. Their personas and traumatic stories of survival and faith captured the attention of these boys. Then, partway through Daniel’s testimony of God’s using disaster as opportunity in his life, he began to challenge the boys—directly. He asked whether they were followers of Jesus and about their participation in the church and their commitment to God ‘s kingdom. It was a somewhat awkward and tense moment. He got no answer and moved on.

But a moment later the boys leaned over to tell Sean they could now stay till 5:15. When 5:15 came they said to Sean, “We can stay till 5:30.” Then, “We can stay till 6:00.” Some of the boys stayed for the entire 90 minutes of testimonies, challenges, and encouragement by Daniel, Achol, and Nancy. By the end of the evening the boys helped pass the offering plate and at least one of them contributed some money himself.

Sean realized that the boys’ understanding of church had changed that night—changed in a way they may never have learned from another outreach program. On Tuesday morning they showed up for the summer ministry and were eager to talk about what they had heard. “I can’t believe that lady went to those places!” “How do you know those people from South Sudan, and why did they come here?” “Do you always collect money for things, and where does that money go?” Something had clicked. Sean couldn’t name it, but it had something to do with the fact that these same people the boys hear singing on Sunday mornings, the same people who serve their lunches, are somehow connected to these people from South Sudan and this missionary who does amazing things in dangerous places halfway around the world.

Sean reflected on the evening: “The picture of what the church is to those boys had grown exponentially in one evening. Perhaps it has grown for us too.”